SAFETY: THE CRITICAL INGREDIENT TO A SUCCESSFUL HIGHWAY WORK ZONE

IGGA members are working together to protect workers on our highways

The IGGA has gathered a group of members to establish a safety committee, providing an opportunity to discuss and identify ways to improve work zone safety in a non-competitive environment. During the committee's inaugural meeting, two solutions rose to the top as elements that make massive improvements to work zone safety—on-site police patrols and traffic cameras with notifying signage.

On-site police patrols are common in some but not all states. As part of our safety awareness push, we encourage DOTs to work with state police partners to position on-site patrol cars in high-speed work zones.

Vehicle-mounted traffic enforcement cameras have become popular traffic control tactics in several states as well. When paired with signage indicating that traffic cameras are watching the work zone, vehicle operators are put on notice to slow down or get a fine.

Large-scale reconstruction projects typically necessitate the total shutdown of highway sections, removing live traffic from the work zone and reducing risks to workers. However, patch projects, by their nature, often allow for live traffic in lanes adjacent to work being performed. For this reason, preservation projects likely require greater attention to detail when it comes to work zone management plans and additional resources like patrol cars and traffic enforcement cameras.

If you would like to join in the discussion by participating in the IGGA Safety Committee, please contact Nick Davis at NDavis@igga.net. We encourage contractors and DOT representatives to join us to make a difference!